Artificial limb.



No. 675,9l2. Patented lune ll, l90l. H. WENNEBOBG, In.

ARTIFICIAL LIIB.

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No. 675,9l2.

H. WENNEBDBG, In. ARTIFICIAL LIIB.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY \VENNEBORG, JR., OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 675,912, dated June 11,1901.

Application filed May '7, 1900- Serial No 15,863- (N0 model-l To allwho/It it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY WENNEBORG, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at (309 Calhoun avenue, Springfield, in the county ofSangamon and State of Illinois,have invented a new and useful ArtificialLimb, of which the following is a specification, which is sufficientlyfull, clear, and exact to enable others skilled in the art to which itappertai us to make and use my said invention.

My invention relates to artificial limbs such as are used as substitutesfor human limbs; and the general purpose of my invention is to provide alimb combininglightness and strength, which may be worn with comfort,and which is so constructed and arranged as to relieve or preventunpleasant jarring or noise in the use of the limb. Ilaving in view thisgeneral purpose, the more specific purposes of my invention are toprovide an air-cushion between moving members of an artificial limb, toprovide an aircylinder and piston of improved construction, to providemeans for regulating the flow of air within, the air-piston, to providesimple and effective means for flexibly connecting the cylinder and thepiston with the cooperating members of the limb, to provide an improvedhinged connection between different mechanisms of the limb andadjustable to take up wear, to provide a foot of improved construction,to provide novel and effective means for connecting the foot with theshank member of the limb, and to provide an improved crown-socket soconstructed that it will readily conform to the stump on which the limbis worn and under unusual pressure will yield, so as to preventunpleasant concussion.

\Vith these ends in View my invention consists of the novel features ofconstruction and combination of parts shown in the annexed drawings, towhich reference is hereby made, and hereinafter particularly described,and finally recited in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an artificiallimb embodying my improvements, parts of the limb being shown as brokenawayin order to more clearly illustrate the construction and relation ofthe parts. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detached longitudinal sectional view ofone of the hingeblocks on the thigh member of the limb. Fig.

3 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the air-cylinder andconnected parts, taken on the median line of the air-cylinder. Fig. 4 isan enlarged detached side elevation and partial sectional View of theeyebolt connecting the air-cylinder with the bridge in the shank memberof the limb. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detached rear elevation ofthe-doubleacting spring connection between the shankand the heel of thefoot member. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detached perspective view of onemember of the hinge connection between the shank and the foot of thelimb. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detached perspective view of one of thehinge-blocksconnecting the shank with the foot. Fig. 8 is an enlargedvertical 1ongitudinal section through the limb. Fig. 9 is an enlargedsection through the air-cylinder on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 isan enlarged partial axial section through the cylinder and the pistonand shows the valve on its seat in the lower part of the piston. Fig. 11is an enlarged partial vertical section on the line 11 ll of Fig. 8.

Similar letters of reference designate like parts in the several viewsof the drawings.

In the drawings I have shown my invention as applied to a leg. It may,however, with such slight modifications as will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art, be applied to an arm without departing from thespirit of my invention.

The limb may be made of wood, light metal, or any other suitablematerial.

The limb herein shown and described consists of three members, which forconvenie'nce in description I will designate as the thigh member, theshank, and the foot, respectively.

The thigh member A is of the usual Wellknown form and is surmounted by acrownsocket I which will be hereinafter described. Near the lowerextremity of the member A is a transverse bridge A. A vertical bolt aextends centrally through the bridge A, and the shank member Aoscillates on a hinge a at the lower extremity of the bolt (1. Byturning the nut on the bolt a the bolt may be raised or lowered toproduce proper adjustment of the part A relative to the part A. Thehinge a is adjustable to compensate for wear, as hereinafter explained.

The shank member A is hollow and has two transverse bridges a and a Ahingeblock a is secured ontop of the bridge (1 and the lower end of theair-cylinder is pivotally connected with said block. The aircylinder Dis preferably made of metal, and an adjustable hinge d at the lower endof the cylinder fits and turns in the fork of the plate a. Acylinder-head D screws on top of the cylinder and is provided with agland (1, adapted to receive packing. A gasket D", of rubber or othersuitable material, surrounds the stem of the piston and fits under thecylinder-head between the cylinder-head and the upper end of thecylinder. Apiston D pierced by a central hole d slides freely within thecylinder. A tubular stem D has one end connected with the piston D andthe other end connected with a trunnion-block D which is in turnconnected with the member A by adjustable hinges (1 A hexagonal part (1on the piston-rod D is adapted for the use of a wrench in turning therod D so as to screw the rod up or down in the trunnion-block D as maybe necessary for the proper adjustment of the parts. The stem D ispierced by a hole (1, opening into the interior of the cylinder. A valved at the lower extremity of a valve-stem d slides in the tubularpistonstem D A cap D screws upon the lower end of the hub of the pistonD and has a central tapering hole (1 in which the valve (1 seats. Theupper part of the valve-stem c is threaded and turns in a correspondingfemale screw in the upper end of the stem 1) and has at its upperextremity a handle (i by which the stem may be turned to move the valved so as to open or close the port (1 On the under side of the piston Dis a packing-disk D of rubber, leather, or othersuitable material, heldin place by a disk and secured by the cap D or other suitable securingdevice. \Vhen the limb is turned at the knee-joint, the downwardmovement of the member A or the upward and rearward movement of themember A causes the piston D to descend within the cylinder and compressthe air within the cylinder below the piston, the degree of compressionbeing controllable by adjusting the valve (1 to diminish or increase theflow of air through the port (1. 1f the valve d is set to completelyclose the port (1 the air may be compressed to such extent as tocompletely stop the downward movement of the piston; but if the valve beleft slightly open air will flow from the part of the cylinder below thepiston through the ports (1 and d to the part of the cylinder above thepiston, the gradual flow of air through the ports serving to permit agradual downward movement of the piston to its downward limit withoutnoise or jar.

By reason of the construction shown and described the wearer of the limbmay by adjusting the valve d graduate and control the movement of thepiston to meet his own preferences as to the action of the limb, makingthe action tardy or quick, as he may prefer.

\Vhen the valve-stem is screwed down, so as to cause the valve (1 toseat in the opening (Z air cannot pass through the opening. Ilence asthe piston descends the air underthe piston becomes compressed, so as toform an air-cushion, and when the downward pressure on the piston ceasesthe compressed air under the piston reacts to raise the piston. It willbe seen then that after the bending of the limb at the knee theair-pressure under the piston is utilized to return the shank member toits initial position. During the upward movement of the piston air flowsfrom the upper portion of the cylinder not only through the ports (I and(Z into the lower portion of the cylinder, but also around the gasket Dwhich yields to permit downward passage of air. Hence it will be seenthat the downward passage of air is more rapid than its upward tlow.\Vhether the piston moves upward or downward there is always an aircushion within the cylinder, which serves to prevent concussion of theparts and also serves to prevent jar or shock to the wearer.

The employment of an air-cushion between cooperative members of a limbis of great practical advantage, because it not only prevents jarring,but it is absolutely noiseless and may be adjusted to a nieety,according to the wishes of the wearer.

For the purpose of connecting the foot yieldingly with the shank Ipreferably employ means which I will now describe.

A rod E passes vertically through and is slidable in a hole in thebridge a. The upper part of the rod E is of somewhat less diameter thanits lower part. A spring 6 surrounds the npper part of the rod, and itslower end abuts against a washer e on the shoulder of the rod, and itsupper end abuts against a washer 6 near the upper extremity of the rod.The tension of the springe is adjust-able by a nut e on the upper partof the red. A spring 6' surrounds the enlarged part of the rod, and itsupper end abuts against the under side of the bridge a, and its lowerend abuts against a washer 6 which rests on a nut c on thescrew-threaded part 6 and the nut may be turned to adjust the tension ofthe spring (2. At the lower extremity of the rod E is an adjustablehinge member e, which is secured in any suitable manner to the heel partof the foot. \Vhen weight is thrown on the heel of the foot, the spring6 is compressed, and when the weight is removed the spring reacts todepress the heel. When the shank member is turned forward and downwardon the connection between the shank and the foot, this movementcompresses the spring 6, and when the pressure is removed the springreacts to restore the members to their initial position.

The washers e and 6, against which the springs e and e abut, arepreferably of sounddeadening material, such as rubber or the like, so asto prevent rattling of the parts.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the V, WHM

springs e and 6 form a yielding connection between the foot and theshank and the tension of the springs may be adjusted according to thecircumstances of each individual case, a harder adjustment beingrequired for a heavy person than would be necessary for a lighterperson.

The foot consists of a heel part G and a toe part G, the whole of thefoot having an clastic covering G of leather or rubber or other suitablematerial, which forms a hinge connection between said parts, said hingeconnection being at the bottom of the foot. This feature is of greatpractical advantage, forthe reason that it prevents wear of the sock bythe toe part turning away from the heel part and rubbing on the sock, aswould be the case if the hinge connection were placed higher up in thefoot. The toe portion G is separated from the heel portion G by a wedgeshaped cushion of rubber or other yielding material. Ahinge member G issecured to the part G. A bolt l extends through the front end wall ofthe part G and has one end pivotally connected with the hinge member G.A nut G on the end of the bolt G may be turned to compress or relax thecushion G or to raise or lower the point of the toe, according to thepreferences of the wearer. A hard leather crown II extends entirelyaround and projects above the upper part of the foot and is securedthereto by screws or other suitable securing devices. The lowerextremity of the shank member fits within the crown II, and the crownmakes a neat and substantial covering for the joint between the twomembers, which effectually prevents the clothing from being caught inthe joint.

The shank and foot may be connected by any suitable hinge permittingforward and rearward oscillative movement of the parts. I prefer,however, to use a hinge connection which I will now describe. Ilingemembers I are secured on the outside of the member A one on each sidethereof and in line with each other. Socket-plates I extendlongitudinally on the upper extremity of the foot and are held in placeon the foot by bolts F. A bolt F extends through the members F and F,and the members F turn on the bolt. Eyebolts F and I surround the bolt Fand serve to take up the wear in the ankle-joint, so as to preventrattling of the joint. The bolt F extends upward through the bridge aand ma be adjusted up or down through the bridge by turning the nuts onthe bolt. The bolt E passes through the foot and is similarly adjustableby turning of the nuts on the bolt.

The hinge members (1", a, a and c and the hinge member of the bolt G areall exactly alike in construction. Hence a description of one willsuflice for all. The hinge member (1 consists of an upper part and alower part, separated by a narrow space for a part of their length, butformed of a single piece of metal and having an eye (1, (see Fig. 2,)through which the pivotal boltpasses. A bolt (Z passes through bothparts of the hinge member, and by screwing down the bolt the parts maybe drawn together, so as to take up any play of the hinge member on thepivotal bolt. The crown-socket extends entirely around the upper part ofthe limb and consists of an inner part B, of spongerubber, and an outercovering B, of soft leather, connecting the part B with the upperextremity of the member A. The outer covering 1 may be connected withthe part A in any suitable manner, either by tacking it thereto orcementing it thereon, so as to leave a smooth surface on the inside ofthe member, forming a socket in which the stump of the limb of thewearer will fit snugly in such manner as to prevent longitudinalmovement of the stump in the socket under ordinary conditions, but so asto yield slightly and prevent too severe binding of the stump in thesocket in case any sudden and unusual weight is thrown upon the limb.

Iain aware that elastic connections between different members ofartificial limbs are in com men use. I therefore do not claim, broadly,that feature of construction.

That I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. In an artificial limb the combination of limb members havinga hingeconnection with each other and an aircushioning device mounted on one ofsaid limb members and connected with and operative by the hinge actionof the other of said limb members, as set forth.

2. In an artificial limb the combination of two limb members havingahinge connection with each other, an air-cylinder mounted on one ofsaid limb members, a perforated pis ton slidable in said air-cylinderand apistonstem connected with the other of said limb members andadapted to reciprocate said piston by the turning of the limb members ontheir hinge connection; substantially as set forth.

3. In an artificial limb, the combination of a thigh member, a shankpivotally connected with said thigh member, an air-cylinder mounted tooscillate in said shank member, and a piston slidable in saidair-cylinder and having a piston-rod pivotally connected with said thighmember, substantially as set forth.

a. An air-cylinder, a perforated piston slidable in said cylinder, atubular piston-stem having a port, and a valve slidable in said tubularpiston-stem and adapted to control the flow of air through said port; incombination with an artificial limb member on which said cylinder ismounted to oscillate and a cooperating limb member connected with andadapted to reciprocate said piston-stem; substantially as set forth.

An air-cushioning device for artificial limbs consisting of a cylinder,a perforated piston slidable in said cylinder, a tubular stem connectedwith said piston, a cylinder-head having a gland in which said tubularpistonstem slides, a gasket between said cylinder and saidcylinder-head, a valve slidable in said tubular piston-stem and a screwon the stem of said valve for adjusting same, substantially as setforth.

6. A hinge connection for artificial limbs consisting of a trunnion andadjustable hinge members in which said trunnion turns, in combinationwith an air-cylinder and a piston slidable in said cylinder and having astem connected with said trunnion, substantially as set forth.

7. A yielding connection for artificial limbs consisting of asingle-shouldered and screwthreaded rod, a spring surrounding said rodabove the shoulderthereof,aspringsurrounding said rod below the shoulderthereof and nuts for adjusting said spring in combination with a shankmember havinga bridge in which said rod is slidable, and a foot memberhinged to said shank member and connected with said rod, said springsacting oppositely to escillate said foot member both upwardly anddownwardly, as set forth.

8. In a foot member for artificial limbs, the

combination of'a heel part, a toe part, an elastic covering forming ahinge connection between said parts, a wedge-shaped cushion interposedbetween said parts and a bolt passing through said cushion andconnecting said parts and adapted to vary the inclination of the toepart relative to the foot part, as set forth.

9. An air-cushioning device for artificial limbs consisting of a vesseladapted to contain air under pressure, means adapted to increase theair-pressure alternately at opposite extremes of said vessel, and meansadapted to gradually and automatically restore equilibrium of the airwithin said vessel; in combination with limb members having a hingeconnection with each other and with which said air-cushioning device isoperatively connected, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence oftwo witnesses.

HENRY \VENNEBORG, JR.

Witnesses:

SANFORD C. PRUITT, SAML. 1). SCIIOLES.

